William n



(Hommel.)

' W. N. SEARS.

NUT LOCK. I No. 380.526. Patented A131353; 188.8.

Elwvuvviw Q UNITED STATES PATENT rErcE.

WILLIAM N. SEARS, OF WELLINGTON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO M.V.'B. HOLMES, OF SAME- PLACE.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,526, dated April 3,1688.

Application filed December 31, 1387. Serial No. 259,454. (No model.)

To all whom may concern,-

Be it known that I. XVILLIAM N. SEARS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at XVellington, in the county of Sumner and State ofKansas, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks,of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements innut-locks, having for its object the provision of a simple and improveddevice of lthis character, whereby the nut can be easily screwed homeand readily tightened in position by means of a suitable key employed inconnection therewith.

The invention consists, brieliy, in providing the. nut with aspring-heldfinger, which is designed to engage with any one of a series oi'correspondingly-formed recesses of a handled key, through which the boltis also passed, said key being interposed between the inner face of thenut and the outer face ofthe article secured.

To these ends niy invention comprises the detail construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, substahtially as hereinafterfully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tightening-key in position withthe nut removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view with the nut inposition; and Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the nut, showing thespring-held finger secured therein.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates an ordinary bolt provided, asusual, with a threaded portion, a, whereon is designed to work the nutB, said nut being provided with a central threaded aperture, as shown.

The nut B, in one corner thereof, or at any other suitable point, hasdisposed in an aperture a ringer, I), which has a spring encircling itsnarrowed portion, causing its thickened end to project beyond the innerface of the nut, as shown, the narrowed end of said finger' also beingprojected a short distance beyond the outerface of said nut.

C is a key designed to be interposed between the outer surface ofthearticle through which the back A is passed and the inner surface of thenut B, said key comprising an approximately square-shaped portion, b',and a projecting handle, b2, said square-shaped portion having a centralthreaded aperture through which the bolt A is designed to extend.

In the outer face of the square-faced portion b of the key C is formed acircularly-disposed series of holes or recesses, b3, which extend 6oabout one-halt" way through said square-shaped portion of the key, saidholes or recesses being of the same diameter as the thickened projectingend of the spring-held finger b.

In practice the bolt A is projected through the article or articles tobe secured. The key O is then screwed thereon, and the nut B is then inturn also screwed upon said bolt until the spring-held ringer thereofcomes in contact with and enters one of the holes or apertures 7o b3 insaid key, when by grasping the handle of said key and turning the sainesaid nut will be irmly screwed home, thus providing means for tighteningsaid nut when the saine becomes loose.

It is well known in practice that nuts, especially those employed inconnection with railroads, are liable to become easily loosened orderanged, whereby the bolt will sooner or later move from its properposition, and this objec- 8o tion my invention is designed to obviate,the same being accomplished by rst screwing on the key O, and theniirmly screwing the nut B onto the holt, when the spring-held lingerthereof will come in contact with one of the rccesses or openings of thekey. and turning said key said nut will be screwed firmly home.

I claim as my invention- In a nut-lock, the combination ofthe key havinga square-shaped portion and a handle, 9o and a series ofcircularly-arranged holes or apertures, the nut having an aperture nearone corner thereof and the spring-held linger disposed in said aperture,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM N. SEARS.

Vilitnesses:

ARCHIBALD R. ANDERSON, Wrrr T. WALKER.

